Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-11-03

And then the meeting was adjourned
until further notice.
That day another stranger appeared
| in the camp. The latest newcomer was
small. dirty, fierce-looking chap. lie
wore full bushy black beard that al
most entirely concealed the expression
of his face. Around his waist was
belt which fairly bristled with weapons.
He was very loud-mouthed individual
and announced himself to be ''Iom
Bowie, Their 'riginal bad man frum
Bitter Krick.''
During the day. he drank large
amount of liquor and by night he was
apparently fighting drunk.
That evening Duke Randall. the New
Yorker, sauntered into The Yellow
Bird the principal saloon OF the
camp. Tom Bowie was in the saloon.
and as soon as he spied the man from
| New York he reeled toward him. cry
ing:
"Why, hello! Ding mer eyes eff hyer
amt mer old pard, Johnny Fresh.
from Frisco! Why, how are We. PAID
Come up and hev drink wi Their old
man."
With these words Tom Bowie seized
the New Yorker by the arm and at
tempted to drag him towards the bar
With sudden wrench Duke Randall
broke from the others grasp and sprang
back step.
Get out of this, you tipsy bum!' he
exclaimed. keep your dirty hands
OFF,
A fierce look of rage flashed in Tom
Bowie's eyes. and with swift move
| ment he snatched revolver from his
belt, but before he could fire kick of
the New Workers. foot sent the weapon
up against the ceiling. Then Duke
Randall's fist caught Tom Bowie fairly
between the eyes. and the original
bad man from Bitter Krick" went
down, and when the would-be bully
struck the floor his face was perfectly
bare, the false beard which he wore
having been dislodged in some man.
ner.
Duke Randall uttered cry of sur
prise as his eyes rested on the face of
the man whom he knocked down.
The New Yorker quickly stepped over
the fallen man and click, click! a pair
of handouts were snapped upon his
wrists.
The inmates of the saloon, who
were crowding around. now uttered a
cry of amazement as they saw the
fallen mans face. The man who lay
handcuffed on the floor was the miss
ing Davis Claxton!
Gentlemen, this man is my pris-
oner," declared Duke Randall.
Hoarse murmurs of anger and indig-
nation broke from the crowd.
"Allow me to explain" continued
the New Yorker. 81 am an officer. l
was sent out to hunt down this man.
whose name is Carlos Roberts and
who is wanted in the East for various
crimes. He has given me 4 hard run,
and for a time l was off the scent. /
finally succeeded in tracing him here.
He probably became aware that was
on his track, and so donned this dis
guise to escape detection. He evil
IDENTITY intended to pick = quarrel with
me and kill me. but his plans all went
amiss and he now finds himself in the
tolls"
Despite the officers words, 1t was
plain to see that many in the crowd
did not believe that the popular Davis
ClaNton was a criminal. At this mo-
ment, however, the door of the saloon
was burst open and man staggered
in. The newcomers clothes were in
rags and his face was wild and has-
gard.
.'Men of Eagle Bar" he cried. "the
chief of the road-agents is in your
midst. l am ore of the road-agents
and our leader is not a woman, but a
man, who DISCUSSES as such. He is
known here as Davis Claxton!''
To say that this announcement
caused wild excitement would be
drawing it mild" As soon as the
stranger could again make himself
heard, he continued:
81 am one of his men, but for triv-
ial offense he condemned me to death.
and had ME confined awaiting execu-
ton. But l have escaped unbeknown
to any one. and am here ready to lead
you, men of Eagle Bar, to the robbers
retreat"
1t is NEEDLESS to say that the outlaw s
offer to lead them to the road-agents'
retreat was promptly accepted. In
less than an hour strong body of
men, all armed to the teeth, were MAX
ing their way into the mountains. hav-
ing left Davis Claxton, or properly
Carlos Roberts, in the hands of the
Eastern officer.
True to his word. the robber guided
them to the outlaws den. Although
taken by surprise the robbers fought
desperately, and were only conquered
when the laSt IF fhem Voc sfr;cEop